Exercise machine with a safety device

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine includes a frame, an exercise module, a driving element, a control module and a strain-detecting module. The frame includes a base and at least three pads attached to a lower face of the base. The exercise module and the driving element are supported on the base and operatively connected to each other. The control module is supported on the frame and electrically connected to the driving element. The strain-detecting module includes a deformation-vulnerable plate connected to one of the pads and a strain gauge attached to the deformation-vulnerable plate to allow the strain gauge to detect a value of deformation of the deformation-vulnerable plate. The strain gauge sends the value of deformation to the control module. The control module stops the driving element to stop the exercise module when the value of deformation irregularly changes in a short period of time.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise machine with a safety device and, more particularly, to an exercise machine with a strain gauge for detecting deformation of portion of the exercise machine to determine whether if it is safe to continue the operation of the exercise machine.

2. Related Prior Art

A treadmill includes a frame, a belt, a driving module and a control panel. The frame includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The belt is in the form of a loop supported on the lower portion of the frame. The driving module is supported on the lower portion of the frame and operatively connected to the belt. The control panel is supported on the upper portion of the frame and electrically connected to the driving module. A user sets his or her feet on the belt before he or she operates the control panel to instruct the driving module to drive the belt. The user walks or runs on the belt according to how fast the belt is driven by the driving module under the control of the control panel. To avoid the user from hurting him- or herself, the treadmill must be stopped immediately when the user runs out of strength or falls.

There has been an exercise machine with a rate-adjusting or stopping button on a control panel operable to stop an exercise machine in time. In practice, it is however difficult for a user to operate the button correctly before he or she falls because of nervousness.

To solve the foregoing problem, there has been an exercise machine with a card connected to a user via a rope. A user inserts the card in a slot of a control panel to start the exercise machine. The exercise machine is stopped when the card is pulled from a slot in a control panel when the user falls. To this end, a micro switch is provided in the slot. However, the micro switch could and would get out of order because of elastic fatigue. In such a case, the micro switch might remain on after the card is moved from it. Moreover, the rope might stumble over the rope.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an exercise machine with a safety device for stopping the exercise machine on the moment of detecting a user leaving it or falling on it.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an exercise machine with a safety device for detecting the state of a user without having to connect the user to it with a cable.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the exercise machine includes a frame, an exercise module, a driving element, a control module and a strain-detecting module. The frame includes a base and at least three pads attached to a lower face of the base. The exercise module and the driving element are supported on the base and operatively connected to each other. The control module is supported on the frame and electrically connected to the driving element. The strain-detecting module includes a deformation-vulnerable plate connected to one of the pads and a strain gauge attached to the deformation-vulnerable plate to allow the strain gauge to detect a value of deformation of the deformation-vulnerable plate. The strain gauge sends the value of deformation to the control module. The control module stops the driving element to stop the exercise module when the value of deformation irregularly changes in a short period of time.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stair-based exercise machine with a safety device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the stair-based exercise machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a control process executed by the safety device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of a user exercising with the stair-based exercise machine shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exercise machine includes a frame (10), an exercise module (20), a control module (30) and a strain-detecting module (40) according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The exercise machine is a stair-based exercise machine in the preferred embodiment. However, the exercise machine can be a treadmill or any other proper exercise machine in another embodiment.

The frame (10) includes a base (11), at least three pads (15) attached to a lower face of the base (11), and a handle (18) connected to an upper face of the base (11). The base (11) is laid stably on a floor due to the use of the pads (15). The handle (18) is used to support a user in exercise.

The exercise module (20) is supported on the frame (10). The exercise module (20) is a belt-based module in the treadmill according to the first embodiment. However, the exercise module (20) can be a stair-based module or any other proper module in another embodiment.

A driving element (32) is supported on the base (11) and operatively connected to the exercise module (20). Thus, the driving element (32) is operable to drive the exercise module (20). The driving element (32) is preferably an electric motor.

The control module (30) is supported on the handle (18) so that the control module (30) is located before the exercise module (20). The control module (30) is electrically connected to the driving element (32) so that the control module (30) is operable to turn on and off the driving element (32) and set a rate of the operation of the driving element (32). Thus, the control module (30) is operable to turn start and stop the exercise module (20) and drive the exercise module (20) fast or slowly.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one of the pads (15) will be referred to as the “primary pad” for briefness of the following description. The strain-detecting module (40) is connected to the primary pad (15). The strain-detecting module (40) includes a deformation-vulnerable plate (41), a spacer (42) and a strain gauge (45). An end of the deformation-vulnerable plate (41) is connected to the pad (15). The spacer (42) is located between another end of the deformation-vulnerable plate (41) and a portion of the base (11). The deformation-vulnerable plate (41) is vulnerable to deformation when the base (11) is deformed by for taking a load. The spacer (42) causes the deformation of the deformation-vulnerable plate (41) to precisely reflect the deformation of the base (11). The strain gauge (45) is connected to a lower face of the deformation-vulnerable plate (41). Moreover, the strain gauge (45) is electrically connected to the control module (30). Thus, the strain gauge (45) is operable to detect any deformation of the deformation-vulnerable plate (41) and accordingly send a signal to the control module (30). After receiving such a signal, the control module (30) stops the operation of the exercise module (20).

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, before a user stands on the exercise module (20), which is supported on the frame (10), the base (11) of the frame (10) bears only the weight of the exercise machine alone. Hence, a constant value of deformation of the base (11) is detected by the strain gauge (45) of the strain-detecting module (40), and a reference signal is sent to and recorded in the control module (30).

When a user stands and exercises (climbs stairs or jogs) on the exercise module (20), the base (11) of the frame (10) bears the weight of the user in addition to the weight of the exercise machine. Hence, a regularly changing value of deformation of the base (11) is detected by the strain gauge (45) of the strain-detecting module (40), and another signal is sent to and recorded in the control module (30).

When the user gets off the exercise module (20), the base (11) of the frame (10) again bears only the weight of the exercise machine. Hence, the constant value of deformation of the base (11) is detected by the strain gauge (45) again, and the reference signal is sent to and recorded in the control module (30) again. On receiving the reference signal again, the control module (30) stops the driving element (32) and hence the exercise module (20).

If the user slips and/or falls on the exercise module (20), the base (11) will bear an irregularly changing load in a short period of time. Hence, an irregularly changing value of deformation will be detected by the strain gauge (45), and a signal is sent to the control module (30). Then, the control module (30) will compare this signal with the reference signal and stop the driving element (32) and hence the exercise module (20) to guarantee safety for the user.

As discussed above, the strain-detecting module (40) is connected to the primary pad (15) of the frame (10) of the exercise machine, and the strain gauge (45) of the strain-detecting module (40) detects the value of deformation of the base (11). The control module (30) receives the value of deformation of the base (11) strain gauge (45) and processes the value of deformation of the base (11) to determine the state of the user. The control module (30) stops the driving element (32) to stop the exercise module (20) when the user gets off or falls on the exercise module (20). Thus, the safety of the user is ensured.

Moreover, the strain gauge (45) detects changes in the load on the frame (10) to determine the state of the user without having to use any rope to tie a card to a user. Hence, the user does not get tangled with such a rope in exercise. The safety of the user is further insured.

The present invention has been described via the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. An exercise machine comprising: a frame comprising a base and at least three pads attached to a lower face of the base; an exercise module supported on the frame; a driving element supported on the base and operatively connected to the exercise module; a control module supported on the frame and electrically connected to the driving element; and a strain-detecting module comprising: a deformation-vulnerable plate connected to one of the pads at an end; and a strain gauge connected to the deformation-vulnerable plate to allow the strain gauge to detect a value of deformation of the deformation-vulnerable plate, wherein the strain gauge is electrically connected to the control module to allow the strain gauge to send the value of deformation to the control module, and the control module stops the driving element when the value of deformation irregularly changes in a short period of time.
 2. The exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the strain-detecting module further comprises a spacer located between another end of the deformation-vulnerable plate and a portion of the base to allow the deformation of the deformation-vulnerable plate to precisely reflect the deformation of the base of the frame.
 3. The exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the exercise machine is a stair-based exercise module. 